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The Rational Response Squad is a group of atheist activists who impact society by changing the way we view god belief. This site is a haven for those who are pushing back against the norm, and a place for believers of gods to have their beliefs exposed as false should they want to try their hand at confronting us.

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Derman reminds us, with extraordinary patience, that scientists have no authority outside the narrow focus of the scientific worldview. Can a biologist harbor any educated doubts about the Virgin birth of Jesus? No—because human parthenogenesis has nothing whatsoever to do with biology.

Our revels now are ended. These our actors, | As I foretold you, were all spirits, and | Are melted into air, into thin air; | And, like the baseless fabric of this vision, | The cloud-capped towers, the gorgeous palaces, | The solemn temples, the great globe itself, - Yea, all which it inherit, shall dissolve, | And, like this insubstantial pageant faded, | Leave not a rack behind. We are such stuff | As dreams are made on, and our little life | Is rounded with a sleep. - Shakespeare

Do you really think that it's satire,or is Harris having second thoughts about Atheism.

What? You can't be serious. Of course it's satire. Did you read it?

Our revels now are ended. These our actors, | As I foretold you, were all spirits, and | Are melted into air, into thin air; | And, like the baseless fabric of this vision, | The cloud-capped towers, the gorgeous palaces, | The solemn temples, the great globe itself, - Yea, all which it inherit, shall dissolve, | And, like this insubstantial pageant faded, | Leave not a rack behind. We are such stuff | As dreams are made on, and our little life | Is rounded with a sleep. - Shakespeare

Do you really think that it's satire,or is Harris having second thoughts about Atheism.

You're joking, right? Have you read the entire thing? Didn't the part where he stated "human parthenogenesis has nothing to do with biology" clue you in?

"Physical reality” isn’t some arbitrary demarcation. It is defined in terms of what we can systematically investigate, directly or not, by means of our senses. It is preposterous to assert that the process of systematic scientific reasoning arbitrarily excludes “non-physical explanations” because the very notion of “non-physical explanation” is contradictory.

Our revels now are ended. These our actors, | As I foretold you, were all spirits, and | Are melted into air, into thin air; | And, like the baseless fabric of this vision, | The cloud-capped towers, the gorgeous palaces, | The solemn temples, the great globe itself, - Yea, all which it inherit, shall dissolve, | And, like this insubstantial pageant faded, | Leave not a rack behind. We are such stuff | As dreams are made on, and our little life | Is rounded with a sleep. - Shakespeare

I like this bit, which strikes me as making it pretty clear it is a parody:

Quote:

As to why science has been the greatest agent for the mitigation of religious belief the world has ever seen, and has been viewed as a threat by religious people in almost every context, this is a final mystery that defies human analysis. I have often thought that if God had wanted us to understand the difference between having good reasons for what one believes, and having bad ones, He would have made this difference intelligible to everyone.

I like this bit, which strikes me as making it pretty clear it is a parody:

Quote:

As to why science has been the greatest agent for the mitigation of religious belief the world has ever seen, and has been viewed as a threat by religious people in almost every context, this is a final mystery that defies human analysis. I have often thought that if God had wanted us to understand the difference between having good reasons for what one believes, and having bad ones, He would have made this difference intelligible to everyone.

That is similure to Jefferson's quote, "Question with boldness even the existance of God, for if there be one, surely he would pay more homage to reason than to that of blindfolded fear".

You can certainly think you have good reasons for holding a position, but the only way to know that, is to put them to the test of scientific scrutiny. Fans of deities don't want the curtain pulled back to reveal man as the creator of gods, because that would mean they would have to face reality. Placebo thinking is intoxicating but deadly to intelect, and being as such, is the source of bloody lemmings littering human history with violence and death.

"We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus -- and nonbelievers."ObamaCheck out my poetry here on Rational Responders Like my poetry thread on Facebook under BrianJames Rational Poet also on twitter under Brianrrs37

What? Freethinkers, atheists and other rational people can't have a sense of humor? Harris has a dry wit which is sometimes difficult to grasp by some people. Satire can be subtle or it can be easily picked up on by all but a complete idiot. In your favor, Harris' writing was on the subtle side. There were, however, some very obvious clues througout the writing. I loved it.

Since Edge is made up of people who are capable of critical thought it's their choice how to present their writings. I can't think of a single reason why satire could not be posted on that web-site.

"Erecting the 'wall of separation between church and state,' therefore, is absolutely essential in a free society." Thomas Jeffersonwww.myspace.com/kenhill5150